Diet and subsistence mode of Neolithic Yuan-Shan people in Taiwan: Perspective from carbon and nitrogen isotope analyses of bone collagen. (July 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lee, Cheng-Yi; Chen, Maa-Ling; Ditchfield, Peter; Lin, Li-Hung; Wang, Pei-Ling; Pollard, A. Mark; Lin, Hsiu-Man; Lo, Ching-Hua; Tsai, Hsi-Kuei
• Is Part Of: Archaeological research in Asia. Volume 7(2016)
• Page Start: 18
• Page End: 27
• Publication Date: 2016-07
• Subjects: Neolithic Taiwan -- Subsistence -- Isotope dietary analysis -- Pig raising -- IsoSource; Archaeology -- Research -- Asia -- Periodicals; Asia -- Antiquities -- Periodicals; 930.1095
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ara.2016.03.002
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2352-2267

Abstract

Abstract: Carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analyses were conducted on Neolithic Yuan-Shan faunal bone collagen to reconstruct a site-specific dietary isotope baseline, and to evaluate the contribution of potential food resources to the diet of Yuan-Shan people. The mean δ 13 C and δ 15 N values of terrestrial mammals were − 17.7 ± 3.6‰ and 5.4 ± 1.3‰, respectively. The mean δ 13 C and δ 15 N values of freshwater fish were − 20.8 ± 2.2‰ and 7.7 ± 2.0‰; while the marine fish had the highest mean δ 13 C (− 11.8 ± 1.2‰) and δ 15 N values (12.1 ± 1.7‰). Combined with archeological evidence and previous isotopic data derived from Yuan-Shan human bone collagen, we suggest that the subsistence strategies of Yuan-Shan people were broad. They relied on rice cultivation, hunting, fishing and gathering food resources from the wild; in addition, they probably raise pigs, as early as 4200 yr BP. Although the Yuan-Shan people relied on broad-spectrum food resources, the foods they mainly consumed were terrestrial herbivores and freshwater fish based on the result of multi-source mixing model. Besides, marine fish, shellfish, and C3 plants also contributed substantially to their diet. By comparison, the contribution of C4 plants was minor.